He leads me...

He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:2-3

HE leads me... He is the Lord, the quiet giver of 'every good and perfect gift'. Not only the giver, but first the creator of all things. He is my shepherd, my saviour and my friend.

He LEADS ME... He shows me the way. He goes before me and yet is with me. Human friends are prone to tell me where I should go. To direct, bully or coerce me into compliance. He merely leads. It is my choice whether or not I follow, and He continues to love me, what ever I decide.

Beside QUIET waters... The very stillness and quietness causes me to slow down. To become still within myself. To cease from action and busyness. To quieten my mind and thoughts and allow my spirit to rest in this place. The quietness is an invitation to absorb once more the peace He offers. That peace which passes all understanding and will permeate my whole being, if I will but accept it.

...quiet WATERS... As I look at this quiet water, reflecting the beauty around it, I am reminded that just as I cannot see the bottom of this pool, I will never know the depths of God's love. It will always be greater than my understanding. If I were to step into the water, it would enfold me as completely as that love. As this water is clean and refreshing, so the water of life cleanses and refreshes my spirit.

He RESTORES MY SOUL. When a craftsman restores a piece of old furniture, he transforms it from being battered and worn, to what he thinks was its original state. That is what Jesus does for me. He knows what He created me to be and lovingly restores me to that state. There is no criticism or condemnation for what I have allowed to batter and spoil me. He seeks only my permission to heal and renew by His love.

...restores my SOUL. My soul is the centre of my being. If I ignore its existence, I am less than complete as a person. When it is cast down, my body and my mind will also be depressed and at less than their best. Yet, even when my mind is perplexed and my body sick, if my soul is at peace, these states become less overwhelming. Indeed, as the soul rests in Your love and is restored in fellowship with You, the resulting joy and harmony allow both body and mind to function to capacity. In restoring my soul, You renew my whole being.